DOWNTOWN—For urbanists and other development hawks of Atlanta, the main knock against Gulch-replacing Centennial Yards to date is that it’s failed to deliver on big promises of affordable housing, despite public-funding incentives that were not just generous but record-breaking. That could start to change, according to project leadership. 

The AJC reports the next major component at the $5-billion megaproject, while in early planning stages right now, could be another relatively tall building with roughly 280 apartments—including units that meet affordability standards—along with about 17 additional retail spaces. 

Per Centennial Yards’ leadership, the 12-story building (with a 510-space parking deck at its base) would rise beside railroad tracks immediately east of 19-story The Mitchell, the district’s first completed high-rise. It would also neighbor the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. 

Where construction stands on Centennial Yards' 5,300-seat music venue (larger than the Fox Theatre), scheduled to open next year, with Chops Lobster Bar and the 261-key Virgin Hotel at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Centennial Yards president Brian McGowan told the AJC the proposal would help address “the Tuesday afternoon problem” around downtown—when big events and foot traffic subside, purging the area of people—and would bring the 50-acre district’s apartment total to roughly 800 of a planned 2,000 units or so. 

For the uninitiated, here’s a look at where Centennial Yards’ growth stands today, nearly a month into 2026 FIFA World Cup festivities, as seen Tuesday, below. “Coming soon” signs lend a clear idea where signed retail tenants will be situated in the new district: 

Like much of Centennial Yards, this central plaza lends new perspectives on downtown, including architectural landmarks such as Westin Peachtree Plaza, as seen in the distance. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Plantings near Cosm, The Irish Exit bar, and a forthcoming Shake Shack. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Centennial Yards' 18-story Hotel Phoenix, at left, and the western facade of the district's forthcoming concert and events venue. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

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CITYWIDE—On Monday, the Atlanta City Council approved a measure that some councilmembers hope will persuade Mayor Andre Dickens to renegotiate a longstanding “More MARTA” intergovernmental agreement, or IGA, with the city's transit authority. 

The resolution was “sponsored by a wide bipartisan group of councilmembers and amended in committee” in hopes of reworking the More MARTA sales tax plan approved by taxpayers a decade ago to “better reflect current priorities, as both sides continue work on transit expansion projects,” as Atlanta News First reports. 

Councilmember Thomas Worthy, a former longtime MARTA board member, told the news station the current IGA was “a good first try, but I definitely believe that we need to have a lot more meat on that bone to rebuild trust with the public, to rebuild trust with one another, and to really see some shovels in the ground and projects to be delivered.”  

See the actual resolution adopted this week over here. 

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DECATUR—Like downtown Atlanta’s fútbol-a-palooza, Decatur WatchFest ’26 is off to a cracking start, racking up an estimated 140,000 visitors over its first month—a number that’s far exceeded the city’s expectations, officials report today. The festivities continue through the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals on July 19 and include seven more concerts, including Decatur’s own Indigo Girls on the last night.

“Many of our local businesses are seeing their best activity in years,” Decatur city manager Andrea Arnold said in an update. “As with our Olympics efforts in 1996, a positive long-term impact on economic development is expected, as new-to-Decatur visitors decide to move their families and businesses to the area.”

A rare moment of joy Monday evening as USA scored its lone goal over Belgium. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Here’s a rundown of what remains for downtown Decatur’s summer of soccer, where viewing is free, (reasonably sized) coolers and lawn chairs are now allowed, and tickets aren’t required, with one exception: 

  • July 9: 4 p.m., France v Morocco
  • July 10: 3 p.m., Spain v Belgium
  • July 11: 5 p.m., Norway v England; 9 p.m., Argentina v Switzerland        
  • July 14: 3 p.m., W97 v W98
  • July 15: 3 p.m., W99 v W100
  • July 18: 5 p.m., Losers M101 v Losers M102
  • July 19: 3 p.m., Winners M101 v Winners M102

Upcoming concerts, as featured on the new stage at Decatur Square:   

  • July 9: 7 p.m., Polly Holiday
  • July 10: 6 p.m., Little Hopes
  • July 11: 7:15 p.m., Purple Madness
  • July 14: 7 p.m., These Crowded Streets
  • July 15: 6 p.m., Decatur City Band
  • July 18: 7:30 p.m., Pushback
  • July 19: 8 p.m., Indigo Girls (gated and ticketed event)

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